Abstract:
Scientists, industry and policy makers must engage more effectively with the public on the issue of emerging science and technologies, participants at the British association for the advancement of science (BA) 'Festival of Science' were told on 6 September.
Outlining the government's new science and society agenda, the UK Minister for Science and Innovation, Lord Sainsbury, argued that science is crucial for creating prosperity and new technologies of benefit to society as a whole. However, he warned that such technologies also raise new ethical, safety, wealth and environmental concerns, which must be fully debated before they come to market.